Citizenship

The rules concerning Danish citizenship are described in detail on the website of the Danish Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing http://uibm.dk/statsborgerskab

Please note that the information is in Danish only.

Dual Citizenship

On 1 September 2015 a new Nationality Act concerning multiple nationality came into force. The new legislation allows a number of citizens to reacquire or retain their Danish citizenship while also having or obtaining another citizenship.
Detailed information is available on the website of the State Administration: Statsforvaltningens hjemmeside (in Danish only).

Previously, a distinction was made between children born in and out of wedlock when the child was born abroad. In that case, if only the father was a Danish national, the child had to be born in wedlock to become a Danish national by birth. As of July 1, 2014 the Law on Danish nationality changed to the effect that a child acquires Danish nationality by birth if either the mother or the father is Danish, independently of whether the child is born in or out of wedlock. The child also acquires Danish nationality if the co-mother is Danish.

The 22-Year Rule – Retaining Danish Citizenship beyond the age of 22

According to the Danish Nationality Act any person born abroad who has never been resident in Denmark nor stayed in Denmark under conditions indicating some close association with Denmark shall lose his/her Danish nationality on reaching the age of 22 unless this will make the person concerned stateless.

An application to retain Danish citizenship should be submitted to the Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing before the age of 22, and preferable between the age of 21 and 22 years due to 10-12 months processing time. Read more on Statsforvaltningens webpage.

The application can also be submitted through your embassy or nearest Danish-speaking consulate.

Please note: In order to apply for a passport at a Danish embassy or consulate, Danish citizens born abroad and above the age of 22 must show a certificate of citizenship (statsborgerretsbevis or indfødsretsbevis), regardless of whether they have lived in Denmark for a prolonged period of time.All Danish citizens born abroad are strongly encouraged to apply for retention of/proof of their Danish citizenship.